In a test of a one-step biometric boarding process, Lufthansa boarded 350 passengers onto an Airbus A380 within 20 minutes. The airline began trialing the one-step boarding for some flights from Los Angeles in 2018.

Lufthansa have boarded an entire A380 in record time. Photo: Pixabay

The passengers able to take advantage of the biometric boarding at Los Angeles International Airport saw a much easier process at the boarding gate. Conde Nast Traveler reports that passengers taking advantage of the innovation simply pause at the self-boarding gate where facial scans are sent in real time to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Once verified, a passenger is officially “boarded” and can proceed through the gate and to their flight. Biometrically boarded passengers don’t even need to show boarding passes. Lufthansa says feedback from passengers is “very positive.”

This trial in 2018 by Lufthansa paved the way for one-step biometric boarding at even more US airports. The process is aided by the CBP passport and passenger registry and the wider use of biometrics in the US.

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Just two seconds to verify passenger identity for boarding

In February 2019, Lufthansa introduced biometric boarding for passengers from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Munich. At the time, the CBP confirmed that facial recognition takes less than two seconds and has a 99% matching rate.

Biometric boarding is an efficient and hassle-free form of travel that helps speed up the boarding process while also increasing security.

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Further digitization for Lufthansa. Image Source: Lufthansa

Reducing processing time by 80%

Miami airport launched America’s first all-biometric entry gate at its Concourse E to screen international arrivals in February 2018. As a result, the development reportedly reduces processing time by as much as 80% for airlines who take part.

MIA director and CEO, Lester Sola, says:

Biometrics is one of the many approaches we are taking to modernize our airport infrastructure, to make the travel experience as seamless as possible.

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Biometrics likely to see wider use in 2019

The Miami introduction is a partnership between MIA, Lufthansa, CBP, and technology company SITA. And, SITA and MIA also partner on other solutions including Mobile Passport Control and the airports mobile application MIA Airport Official. SITA president for the US, Diana Einterz, says:

We have worked closely with the US CBP, airlines and airports to design a seamless biometric exit solution that meets the needs of all parties.

Biometric passports, or e-passports, were first introduced in the US and UK a decade ago. 2019 is likely to see more use of biometric facilities at airports and airlines. Speaking in 2018 at the time of the Los Angeles airport biometric boarding trial, Lufthansa senior director Becker said:

We anticipate that in near time, biometric boarding, as well as other aspects of the air travel experience, will be widely utilized across the U.S. and beyond.

Lufthansa appears to be making strides both technologically and in the air industry. After a successful 2018, Lufthansa recently overtook Air-France-KLM to become Europe’s largest airline.